Chapter 29 The Last Light

The stairs they climbed were tall and steep, each hand carved into the side of a great stone statue of a dwarf king long past. Bilbo groaned as he climbed, sure it was taller than even the stone giants they encountered after leaving Rivendell.

Bilbo entertained himself on this tedious climb by thinking about all of the things he would do when the deed was done. First, he was going to find somewhere to take a very long nap. And a bath! Oh, to have a nice, steaming hot bath.

He couldn't help but grin a little when he thought about the fact he'd never been so filthy in all his life. How different he was nearing the journey's end versus when it all began. How long until he would see the Shire again? Autumn was over and winter would arrive quickly. Should he stay to help with the rebuild and head for home when the thaw came? Bilbo was surprised to find he was not entirely eager to return home, unsure if the quiet life he'd led before would suit him now that he had seen so much more of the world.

When the group reached the top, a few of the party laughed in relief. No one had enjoyed that climb. Thorin thought of Elwen, how she would have sworn and snarled the whole way up. He bit back a grin, but the urge to smile faded quickly.. She was so angry with him...He could only hope she would forgive him when everything was said and done.

He had no regrets as to leaving Kili behind. There was no way he could have made a climb like that, and he'd have killed himself trying. This was for the best. And now we must find the door.

"This must be it." Thorin moved toward the face of the mountain. "The hidden door." He turned toward his men, presenting them with the key. "Let all those who doubted us rue this day!"

The others cheered happily. There had been many naysayers, and Thorin had proved them all wrong, just like he would prove Bard wrong. The dwarves of Erebor have returned, and none shall force us from this place again.

"Right then," Dwalin said. "We have a key, which means somewhere there is a key-hole."

The warrior patted and prodded the face of the mountain. Thorin looked out toward the sun kissing the horizon. "The last light of Durin's Day…" he turned to Balin, "Will shine upon the key-hole."

But as they searched, no such key-hole became apparent. Thorin sent Nori to assist Dwalin, knowing the dwarf to have a talent for such things. Dwalin struggled, trying to push open an invisible door Thorin knew could not be forced. Nori used a glass and spoon to check for a hollow place, but found nothing. Thorin squinted at the setting sun, feelings of dread and desperation seeping into his bones.

"We're losing the light. Come on!"

Nori complained for Dwalin to be quiet so he could hear, but the further the sun sank, the more frayed the group became.

"Break it down!" Thorin thundered, but even as he gave the order, he knew it would be for not. Dwarves hid their doors with magic; they would not break so easily. But he was desperate, and so he urged his men on as they swung their axes to no avail.

"It was to break," he whispered as he watched the light slip further and further away.

"It's no good, the doors are sealed. Can't be opened by force," Blain cried over the sound of steel on stone. "There's a powerful magic on it."

The defeat in Balin's voice was like a physical blow. The members of the company who had followed him to the mountain stood in shocked silence as the sun gave way to night.

"No!" he cried, opening the map, searching for what, he wasn't sure. "The last light of Durin's Day," he read, his voice wretched, "will shine upon the key-hole." He looked at his men, his friends, beseeching. "That's what it says. What did we miss?"

Balin closed his eyes and shook his head. Thorin moved to his friend, the wisest among them. "What did we miss? Balin?"

But Balin could offer no comfort. "We've lost the light," he said heavily. "There's no more to be done. We had but one chance." Balin turned back to the steps. "Come away, lads. It's over."

Slowly, they all began to walk away, resigned to their fates. The only one who protested was the hobbit.

"Wait a minute!" he said, looking at Thorin. "Where are they going?" When he got no reply, Bilbo cried, "You can't give up now!"

Thorin couldn't dare to hope. He kept thinking about everything his people had endured, of the promises he'd made. What kind of a king am I if I cannot bring my people home? He looked at the key, the piece of the past a strange half-Elf woman had guarded before she knew who the dwarves of Erebor were. Elwen.

The thought of her drove the disappointment home for him. He had thought to offer her the hand of a king, but he was no king. How could he ever face her again?

Thorin dropped the key, listened as the metal clattered on the ground and echoed off the stone. He turned away from the decaying light as the sun set on Durin's Day and on every hope Thorin Oakenshield had of truly becoming King Under the Mountain.

Bilbo couldn't believe his eyes. They were really leaving, giving up just like that. In the time he'd grown to know and care for these dwarves, he'd never seen them so utterly defeated. So hopeless. He'd never seen them back down from a challenge; they weren't built that way.

"Thorin," said Bilbo, wanting his friend to see sense. But Thorin turned and stalked after the others, slapping the map against Bilbo's chest as he left.

"You can't give up now."

He was met with only silence.

Damn dwarves, he thought. Where is their stubbornness when it could be useful?

Once again, his inner voice sounded quite a bit like a cranky Elwen. What would she do if she were here? Not tuck tail and run, that's for sure. No, Elwen would stare down the mountain until its very roots quaked under her resolve and opened its secret doors freely. But Elwen isn't here, he thought, and Bilbo owed it to her to find a way into that mountain.

He went to the spot where Gloin and Dwalin had tried to break the stone.

"Stand by the grey stone when the thrush knocks," Bilbo read aloud from the map, and muttered about the setting sun. "The last light of Durin's Day will shine…" Bilbo squinted at three words of significance. "The last light…"

He sighed as he repeated the words. What was it about the wording that made him feel like he was missing something important? At first read, the words on the map seemed like simple enough instructions. Do what it says, and the door will open. But what if it weren't so simple?

A light breeze ruffled Bilbo's hair and the clouds parted, revealing the moon in all its glory. A tapping sound drew Bilbo's attention. A bird was attempting to break open a nut on the side of the mountain. No, not just any bird. A thrush!

The moon, he thought. Moon runes. The instructions were written in moon runes!

And then Bilbo saw it; a threat of silver light revealing a hole set in a shadowed part of the wall.

"The last light," Bilbo half laughed. "The key-hole! Come back! Come back! It's the light of the moon! The last moon of autumn!"

He began frantically searching the ground. "Where's the key? It was here! It was just…"

In all of his excitement, Bilbo accidentally kicked the key, sending it careening toward the edge of the cliff. Just because it went over the edge, a heavy boot came down on the string attached to it with a resounding thud.

Thorin bent slowly and retrieved the key. Bilbo wondered if Thorin was thinking of Elwen and how the key came to be in his possession. She should be here, Bilbo thought. Elwen, Fili, Kili, all of them. That's all Bilbo could think of as Thorin placed the key in the hole and turned. She deserved to be there when her future husband stepped into the Lonely Mountain for the first time in sixty years.

Thorin pushed and the door swung open, cool air hitting the company. Bilbo felt a chill run down his spine, but not from the chill. Elwen really should be here, he thought. Because now I have to face a dragon alone.

"Erebor."

Thorin's voice sounded breathless. He couldn't say more at first. Sixty years. Sixty long years had his people been expelled from their homeland. Thorin was not the only among them affected. Balin said his name, his voice breaking with emotion, the only dwarf blinking back tears.

Thorin took the first step into the mountain. Memories rushed him so rapidly, he felt almost dizzy.

"I know these walls. These halls." He placed a hand on the wall of the carved out mountain. "This stone." Now it was Thorin who had to blink back tears. "You remember it, Balin. Chambers filled with golden light."

Balin stepped inside the mountain, wonder making his aged face look years younger. "I remember," he said.

One by one, the present members of the company filed inside the Kingdom of Erebor, some of them for the first time in their lives, or since they were very young. Nori and Gloin spied a message carved into the stone above the hidden door, along with a likeness of the throne. A throne that had belonged to Thorin's grandfather, and now it was his.

"Herein lies the seventh kingdom of Durin's folk," read Gloin. "May the heart of the mountain unite all dwarves in defense of this home."

That is exactly what Thorin intended to do.

"The throne of the king," Balin said to Bilbo, who nodded toward the carving.

"And what's that above it?" asked the Hobbit.

"The Arkenstone," replied Balin.

"Arkenstone. And what's that?"

Finally, it was time to tell Bilbo Baggins of his true purpose.

"That, Master Burglar," Thorin said, "Is why you are here."

Kili groaned, his whole body lifting off the table in agony. Fili pushed his brother's sweaty hair out of his face as Bofur fetched boiling water. Elwen couldn't do anything but watch. Every time Kili moaned, it felt like being stabbed herself. She knew how stout her friend was; for him to be thrashing so...she couldn't stand it.

"Can you not do something?" she asked Oin, feeling desperate.

"I need herbs, something to bring down the fever."

Bard rifled through his personal store. "I have nightshade. I have feverfew-"

"They're no use to me," Oin interjected." "Do you have any kingsfoil?"

"No, it's a weed. We feed it to the pigs."

"Pigs?" Elwen shook her head. "Okay, I'll go-"

"No," rasped Kili. "No." He blindly reached for her and she caught his hand. She looked at Bofur, beseeching.

"Right," he pointed at Kili. "Don't move." And then he was gone.

"You want me," Bilbo said slowly, "to find a jewel?"

Bilbo and Balin were walking down small but beautifully carved hallways, toward the room that not only housed a ridiculously large treasure, but also a fire breathing dragon. What had Bofur called him? Ah, right. A furnace with wings.

"A large white jewel, yes."

"That's it?" There had to be some sort of catch. "Only, I imagine there's quite a few down there."

"There is only one Arkenstone, and you'll know it when you see it."

Why had they waited so long to tell him? And why on earth didn't he inquire about what his duties as a burglar actually was long before that point?

"Right," Bilbo said, following Balin further into the mountain.

The old dwarf paused and sighed. "In truth lad...I do not know what you will find down there. You needn't go if you don't want to. There's no dishonor in turning back."

Oh, there would be plenty of dishonor in turning back.

"No, Balin. I promised I would do this, and I think I must try." Bilbo was taken aback when the dwarf began to chuckle.

"It never ceases to amaze me."

"What's that?"

"The courage of hobbits!"

Bilbo didn't feel very courageous. A bead of sweat trickled down his back and he had to suppress a shudder.

"Go now," said Balin. "With as much luck as you can muster."

Bilbo nodded, steeling himself. He made it a few paces when Balin said his name.

"If there is, in fact…" Balin said slowly, "a, umm, live dragon down there...don't wake it."

Bilbo swallowed. He took a few cautious steps, but when he looked over his shoulder, he found Balin had gone. I guess I'm on my own then, he thought as he carefully made his way toward what end, he did not know.

Even Bilbo's soft feet echoed, albeit mutedly, on the stone. He came to a great room and, moving forward slightly, he called out a cautious hello. If someone had answered him, Bilbo was sure he'd have lost all of his senses. He knew nothing about dragons aside from the fact that they loved gold and breathed fire. Did they possess magic? Could they talk, like the mountain trolls could? These were the things going through his mind as he moved forward into the cavernous hall.

Before stepping out into the open, Bilbo tapped the stone wall and gasped as it echoed. He waited a moment and...nothing. This gave him just enough confidence to propel himself forward.

"He's not at home," he said aloud to no one. Maybe he could pretend Elwen were by his side, urging him on. "Not at home. Good, good, good...good."

Bilbo stopped on a ledge that looked out over the entirety of the door large to fathom hall, and what he saw made his blood run cold. His mouth fell open as his eyes gazed upon more gold than he ever thought could possibly exist in one place.

There was a sea of glimmering coin, a flood of jewels and bobbles of more value than he could dream. For whatever reason, when hearing off the wealth of Erebor, Bilbo had thought maybe a semi large room filled with chests. Not this. This was unfathomable. What could one kingdom do with all this treasure? Elwen would have had kittens. Oh, she's going to hate this, he thought with sympathy. Not for her, but for everyone she would be annoyed at for hoarding this much.

Bilbo could almost hear her response. Don't you worry about me, fool. How are you going to find the Arkenstone under all this junk?

How indeed? There was miles upon miles of gold, and there was no telling how deep it went. He could die of old age before finding that blasted stone!

Bilbo stepped out onto the gold, barely able to keep his footing. He was half worried about causing an avalanche and becoming buried under a tidal wave of coins. The noise was concerning; he tinkled with every step. If there is a dragon, he's going to hear me coming. But it couldn't be helped, so he picked his way around as carefully as he could. An elf would have been better, more sure footed.

Well, you don't half an elf, imaginary Elwen griped. So get moving. We don't have all century.

Oh how he missed her.

Bilbo picked through piles of treasure, holding up diamonds as big as eyeballs and discarding them when he decided they were far too ordinary to be the king's jewel. He came upon a large, foggy white stone he thought might be the Arkenstone, but no. Balin told him he'd know it when he saw it, and this crystal wasn't it. When he carelessly tossed it and there was a loud crash, he told it to shush.

You want to get roasted alive, don't you, imaginary Elwen snarked. As he searched, he muttered to himself. "Arkenstone. A large white jewel." As if describing it out loud would somehow call it forth. "Very helpful."

The cavern was too vast, the treasure too incredible. An army of burglars could have wandered for an age and never found it. Maybe their quest was doomed after all. But uphill he tread, his head on a swivel, always searching. He pulled at a chalice sticking out of the ocean of coins, causing a landslide. At first he wasn't concerned, but then a shape began to take form. Leathery scales, a closed eyelid…

Bilbo shot behind a pillar, breathing hard. He'd been afraid often on this journey, but he hadn't ever felt this kind of terror. Not when he was almost eaten by trolls or spiders or giant bear men. This was a dragon. A real dragon.

No. No, absolutely not. He started to slink away when he saw a mound of gold all the way across the cavern begin to shift. The tail. Uh oh, he thought. Oh damn, said imaginary Elwen.

Bilbo dove behind a mound of gold as the creature's great yellow eye opened. He pulled the ring out of his pocket and slipped it on.

And then the dragon Smaug lifted his great head and sniffed.

"Well," said the dragon. I guess they can talk. "Thief. I smell you. I hear your breath. I feel your air." His voice was a low, grumbling growl. Bilbo dodged and ducked as Smaug moved around, trying to find the intruder. Bilbo froze when the dragon's teeth were too close for comfort. "Where are you?" Smaug angrily demanded. "Where are you?"

Bilbo took off. He couldn't run without giving away his position, but he couldn't stand still anymore either. Smaug snaked himself around the pillars, creating a wave out of coins. Bilbo wedged himself in a corner.

"Don't be shy. Step into the light."

Bilbo held his breath as Smaug moved around, seeking his prey.

"There is something about you," said Smaug, coming up behind Bilbo's hiding place. "Something you carry. Something made of gold. But far more...precious."

Precious. The word echoed in Bilbo's mind, causing him to squirm. And in his mind, a great eye…

Bilbo yanked off the ring, coming face to face with a monster of legend.

"There you are, thief in the shadows."

He had to think fast.

"I did not come to steal from you," Bilbo said, voice full of awe. "Oh Smaug, the unassessably wealthy. I merely wanted to gaze upon your magnificence"

And Smaug was magnificent, despite the absolute danger that radiated from the creature. Maybe even because of it.

"To see if you really were as great as the old tales say. I did not believe them!" His voice had gone high pitched with fear. He wasn't sure if dragons liked flattery, but it was worth a shot.

Smaug reared back, putting himself on full display.

"And do you now?"

"Truly." Magnificent, and terrible. "The tales and songs fall utterly short of your enormity oh Smaug, the stupendous."

"Do you think flattery will keep you alive?"

No, he did not. He only needed to stall until there was an opportunity to slip away.

"No...no."

"No indeed," replied Smaug. "You seem familiar with my name, but I don't remember smelling your kind before." Smaug once again slithered far too closely. "Who are you and where do you come from, may I ask?"

Bilbo barely registered the question because just then, he spied it. An egg sized white jewel that glowed like a star. The Arkenstone.

"I come from under the hill," Bilbo stammered.

"Underhill?"

Bilbo nodded. "And under hills and over hills my path has led. And-and through the air, I am he who walks unseen."

"Impressive," said Smaug as he stalked back and forth. "What else do you claim to be?"

A bloody scared hobbit, that's what…

"I am…" Bilbo struggled for words as the dragon drew closer, baring his fangs. "Luck-wearer. Riddle-maker."

"Lovely titles. Go on."

"Barrel-rider."

"Barrells?" Smaug was so close, his breath nearly knocked Bilbo over. "Now that is interesting. Where are your little dwarf friends? Where are they hiding?"

Bilbo's stomach dropped. "D-dwarves?" he said the word slowly, as if it were totally new to him. "No. No, no dwarves here." If he had to die here, fine. There was no reason for the others to meet the same fate. "You've got that all wrong."

"Oh, I don't think so, Barrel-rider!" Smaug's great yellow eyes glowed like embers. "They sent you in here to do their dirty work while they skulk about outside."

"Truly, you are mistaken, oh Smaug, chiefest and greatest off calamities."

"You have nice manners for a thief and a liar." Smaug's patience was waning, which meant Bilbo was running out of time. "I know the smell and taste of dwarf. No one better! It is the gold!" As Smaug gave his speech, Bilbo crept stealthily toward the Arkenstone. "They are drawn to treasure like flies to dead flesh."

One of the dragon's great legs slammed down, causing the Arkenstone to slide down a hill of treasure. Bilbo chased after it, Smaug hot on his heels.

"Did you think I did not know this day would come? That a pack of canting dwarves would come crawling back to the mountain?"

With Smaug's weight, he knocked over one of the pillars, and it felt like the mountain itself shook.

Suddenly, Bilbo felt a great wave of relief hit him. For the first time since leaving Lake-town, he was truly grateful Elwen had been left behind. Because the last thing he wanted was for Elwen to die by his side in the heart of this mountain.

On the ledge outside the open grey door, the others also felt the mountain shake. A sound like a thunderclap echoed through the night, and Thorin's heart seized. Everyone stood, frantic.

"Was that an earthquake?" Dori asked, surely very much hoping it was an earthquake.

It was Balin who answered, his aged voice thick with memory.

"That, my lad, was a dragon."

Elwen heard a rumble, almost like thunder ,and then felt the floor beneath her shake slightly. Dirt fell from the rafters, and she looked wide eyed to her uncle.

"Bard?"

"It's coming from the mountain," said Bain.

"No," she whispered. "No…"

Thorin, Bilbo, and the others. What chance did they have against a dragon?

"You should leave us," Fili said to Bard. "Take your children and get out of here."

"And go where? he asked heavily. "There is nowhere to go."

We've doomed them, she thought.

"You were right," Elwen said, looking at Bard with tears in her eyes. "I'm so sorry. I wish we'd never come here."

If they hadn't, Kili wouldn't be writing on a table, Thorin wouldn't be in mortal peril, and neither would her new found family. Bard touched her cheek gently, thumbing away her tears.

"Don't say that," his voice was so gentle it made her heart ache. "I, for one, am glad you came. How could I regret that?"

"Are we going to die, Da?" asked Tilda. Bard's two oldest children tried to look brave for their little sister, but they too looked to their father.

Bard didn't hesitate. "No, darling."

"The dragon," Tilda said urgently. "It's going to kill us."

And if it did, it would be all Elwen's fault.

A defiant look crossed Bard's face as he reached for something hanging in the rafters. He yanked it free, and what he held was one black arrow made of dwarf forged steel. The last one in existence, and their only hope.

When he turned and looked at his family, all fury and conviction, Elwen saw what kind of warrior her uncle could have been had he been born to a different life. Strong and noble, fierce and loyal. Elwen was incredibly proud to share blood with him.

"Not if I kill it first," Bard snarled.

Author's Note: I wasn't expecting to get a chapter out this quickly! Apologies if there are more errors than normal, I'm just so eager to post regularly again. I can promise Chapter 30 won't be out tomorrow haha, the rough draft isn't finished, but I hope it won't be long. I think we have one, maybe two more chapters until we are finished with part 2 and onto part 3!

Please leave a review if you liked what you read! Let me know your theories for the rest of the story, I always love hearing what everyone thinks! Thanks for sticking with me all these years!

Cheers-L